Door-operating mechanism.



1%. 883,933. PATENTED APR. '7, 1908.

A. CAMPBELL. DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATI N I D .28. 190

0 ILE OCT 7 5 SHEETg-SHEBT l.

No. 883,933. PATENTEDAPRJ', 1908;

A. CAMPBELL. DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.28. 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m m o 0 mg;

I v r I I l r F d/"gy /fi9z&

1:10. 883,933. PKTENTED APR. 7

- 'A. CAMPBELL.

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

- urmou'zon rnzs'n 0012a. 1907.

5 SEBETs-SHBBT'A.

No.8 s3 93s. PATENTED APR.7, 1908.

- A.GAMPBELL.

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM.

' APPLICATION FILED 001'. 2B. 1907.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, IL

ASSIGNOR TO THE ENTERPRISE RAILWAY LINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DOOR-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

n Patented April 7, 1908.

Application and 0mm 28, 1907. Serial No. 399,430.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARGYLE CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at 'Chicago,'in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Car-Door-Operating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dumping mechanisms for freight cars and its object is to provide means by which the load upon the floor of a car may be readily discharged and the door returned to closed position; to provide a mechanism by means of-w'hich the operating mechanism proper of the door performs the function of an efficient lock without the assistance of ratchet dpgs or other similar locking mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a convenient construction for the looking member propein,

T he invention which is in many respects an im rovernent upon a modification of my Unite States Patent No'. 812,783, consists in mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing objects and particularly in providing the door or doors constituting the bottom of a freight car floor with a locking latch or pin preferably approximately horizontal which is supported, when in locked position, directing upon the door operating means so that the load upon the door can not possibly tend to set the operating mechanism proper in.

motion or otherwise open the door.

More particularly it consists in having the pin engage the door in two points and the operating mechanism one point so. that more stable equilibrium is maintained than in the structure shown in said prior patent.

it also consists in the combination with the foregoing of a door opening and closing mechanism which operates positively upon said pin in both directions and yet permits very wide opening of the load discharging floor door.

The invention consists in such a mechanism which can be easily made and installed which is efficient in operation and is not readily liable to get out of order.

The inventionfurther consists in details of construction which will be hereafter more fully cribed and claimed as thespecificare 1 is a side and sectional end view of a freight car equi of this invention, the si the parts of the door in closed position, the right hand half of said figure showin the same parts with the door in open or disc arg ing position. Fig. 3 is a plan and 4 a side enlarged detail view of the o crating parts illustrated in the left half 0 Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional detail view on'the line e of Fig. it showing pad with the device 5-5 of Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Fig. 4 showin the successive positions of the parts there shown as the operation. of opening the door is started. Fig; 8 is a vertical sectional and Fig. 9 a side sectional view of a modified form of construction of the latch pin and the box or housing in which it runs. Fig. 10 is a'plan view, Fig. 11 a side sectional and Fig. 12 an end sectional detail view of another modified form of construction of the same parts. Fig. 12 is taken'on. the line 12-12 of Fig. 11. I As some concrete formfor illustrating the. invention must be adopted, the device of this invention is here shown applied to a carh ring a central girder 15, cross girders or bolsters 16, upright side members 17 and a floor proper 18 combined with horizontal load carrying floor doors 2O hinged at 21 to the central girder 18 in the manner well known in the art, but manifestly the device of this invention may be ap lied to load'carrying doors however locate in the car with-' out departing from the spirit of this inven tion.

Extending along each side of the car under the floor 18 roper and adjacent to the swinging front e go 23 of the door or doors constituting the floor of the car is a shaft 25 adapted to be operated from the end of the car or any other convenient point by a suitable hand wheel 24 or any other suitable .mechanism for rotating such a shaft in either direction. Each shaft. is preferably provided with some sort of independent locking mechanism such as a ratchet wheel 26 and dog 27 at the end of the car but any other ,ep'uivalent mechanism may be used, and one o the real purposes of this invention'is to render the use of such a device entirely unnecessary.

Rigidly mounted upon each shaft 25 ad jacent to each locking bolt or bar 72 which will be hereafter. described is a suitable drum 29 of any convenient shape the form here shown having four sides 30, 31, 32 and 33. At least one, and preferabl two or more such drums with corres on in latch bolts or bars 72 are provided or each door. Ex- ,fending from one side as'30 of each drum is a ug or crank arm 35. Through this crank arm formed by the drum 31 and this lug 35 is a short in or stud 37 on which is 'our-' naled a lin 38 adapted to normall 't in close contact with the side 30 of the rum 29 as shown. Along the side 31 of the. drum is another link 40' journaled to the link 38 at 41. Along the side 32 of the drum is another link 42, journaled at 43 to the link 40. Along the side 43 of the drum is a link 44 .journaled at 45 to the link 42.. The links here mentioned may each be made from one, ora plurality of similar members laced side by side without cleparting from t e spirit of this invention.

The four link members just described constitute a connecting member betweencrank arm 35 and locking bar'72. The link 44 has in its side adjacent to the drum a notch or tooth v66 adapted to come in close proximity to but preferably sli htly clear, a corresponding tooth or note 67 cut in the face 33 of the drum so that the four link members described are revented from traveling of 7 their own weig t or otherwise in a counter- 0 clockwise direction about the center of the shaft 25 andthus slip off from the drum and also so that'when the shaft 25 is ower driven in a clockwise direction it may orce the link 44 to travel in a clockwise direction with the 4 35 drum, until 0 erated upon by external forces as hereafter escribed.

Journaled upon a bearing 70 in the link 44 in the same vertical lan'e as'the center line of'the shaft25is a lo'dliin pin or latch 72 extending beneath the .oar oor 21 and bearing against the same or supported thereby attWo suitable pointssuch as by the rollers 74 and 7 5'.' It will be noted "that this in and the bearing in which it moves and a of the alternative constructions hereafter set forth constitute a pin. and slot connection between the flexible link members 38, 40', 42 and 44 and the door exactly like the one of my said. prior patent except as to details of form. In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and '4 this latch member '72 is a plain bar and. the rollers 74 and 75 are ordinary rollers 'ournaled on :suitablesupportin rods'or sha ts,76 and 77 mounted insuitab e supporting members 7 8 secured byjmy suitable means upon the underside of the car door.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown-a boxor housing 80 containin pins or bolts 81 on which are journaled ro ers 82. 'These rollers serve exactly the'same purpose as the rollers 76 and 77 heretofore described but bear against the inner surfaces 84 and 85 formed in the latch or dog member 86 which is, as best shown in Fig. ,9, formed :with a slot 87 through which es the shafts 81 pass. The hole 88 on this dog anism and therefore 't member is adapted to fit uphn the pin or other shaft member 70 heretofore described of the complete car mechanism. I

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 is shown another alternative form of locking dog or pin in which the car 90, corresponding to the'members 86 and 7 2 heretofore described, carries rigidly, connected to it, shafts or studs 91 and 92 carrying rollers 93 and 94 which are adapted to travel u on tracks 95 or 96, as the case may 75 be, insi eof a housing 97 secured upon the underside of the floor door as shown. pin 70 heretofore described passes through the hole 99 in the member 90 in exactly the same manner asthrough the member 72 shown in Fig. 4. Particular attention is here. called to the fact that these locking members all hear at two points on the door and oneon the o crating shaft or mechhere is perfect equilibrium when the door is closed and no tendency of the load to set the operating mechanism in operation while in my said prior atent a locking effect is only secured when t 1e bearing on the door, the one adjacent to the shaft and the pivot point 27 are in the same vertical line, a condition hard to maintain without the aid of a supplemental locking mechanism which may be entirely dispensed with in the construction here shown.

In the operation of the device assume that the arts are in the position of the left portion of 1g. 2 and of Figs. 3 and .4. When now the o erator desires to open the door he rotates t e shaft 25 in a clockwise direction using any suitable mechanism heretofore referred to and thus moves the parts first to the osition'of Fig. 6, then to the position of igv 7' and finally to a position corresponding to that shown on the right side of Fi 2. As the operator begins to rotate the sha t the'angw lar tooth 67 engages the angular tooth 66 and consequently carries or moves the pin or latch 75 positively from the position of Fi 4 to that of Fig. 6 notwithstanding the act that the links 38-40- 42 and 44 are flexible, with reference .to each other, and are consequently incapable of exerting in themseives a direct compression strain to move the latch pin 72' inward with reference to the door. 1f5

his positive rotating action also acts directly-on the door to first overcome its inertia and second to overcome any sticking action. When the parts reach the position of Fig. 7 there isno longer any necessity for positive forcing action upon the pin 72 or upon the door proper and the link members 38-40'- 4244 simply unwind from the drum 29 under'theaction of the Weight upon the door until the parts reach the 0 en position of Fig. 5 .2, in which position any oad upon the floor door is free to slide u at the side of the car. When the load has v een discharged in the manner described the operator rotates the shaft in the opposite or counterclockwisejiae The A direction with the result that he firstrestores the parts to the position of Fig. 7 then to that of Fig. 6 and finally to that of Figs. 3 and 4. During the passage from the position of Fig. 7 to that of Fig. i the mechanism draws the latch member 72 positively outward with reference to the door and into theposition of Figs. 3 and 4 where as heretofore described it looks the door Without exerting any pressure upon the operating mechanism tending to open the door. This same movement also positively forces the door into final closed position.

By this construction an exceedingly neat and compact form'of device is obtained especially applicable to gondola cars but the device may be used on any form of car without departing from the spirit of the invention. it will also be noted that notwithstanding the fact that there is. afleXible member in the combination the door is positively moved in each direction; in the opening direction as great a distance as is necessary to insure overcoming any sticking action of the closed door; and in the closing operation throughout the entire path of the travel of the door. Each of the alternative constructions for the locking pin are antifriction and are protected from dirt, ice and'snow by the housings shown and heretofore described.

\ The claims are: I

1. In combination with a car having a load retaining door, a latch member movably mounted on the door and a door oper" ating mechanism located on the same side of the door as the latch and adjacent thereto connected to and operating said latch member and comprising a shaft and a link connection between the shaft and latch memher-operating and adapted to move the latch member in both directions.

2. In combination with a car having a load retainingdoor, a latch member movably mounted on the door and a door oper ating mechanism located on the same side of the door as the latch and adjacent thereto connected to the door through said latch mechanism, adapted to operate said latch in both directions and comprising a shaft and a link connection between the shaft and latch member operating and adapted to move the latch member in both directions.

- 3. in combination with a car having a load retaining door a latch engaging the door at two points and an outside support atone point and a door opening and closing mechanism located on the same side of the door as the latch and adjacent thereto connected to the door through said latch 'mechanisrn adapted to positively operate said latch in both directions and comprising a shaft and a link connection between the shaft and latch member operating and adapted to move the latch member in both directions.

and adapted to move the latch member in both directions.

5. In combination with a car having a load retaining door,

operating mechanism for positively opening and closing said door and a latch member movable by said operating mechanism located on the same side of the door as the latch and adjacent thereto so mounted t at when the door is closed it engages both the doorand operating mechanism without exerting any force to start the operating mechanism and comprising a shaft and a link connection between the shaft and latch member operating and adapted to move the latch member in both directions.

6. In combination with a car having a load retaining door, operating mechanism for positively. opening and closing said door and a latch member movable by said operating mechanism so mounted that when the door is closed it supports the edge of the door upon the operating mechanism without exerting any force tending to start the oper ating mechanism, and operating mechanism comprising a shaft and a'link connection between the shaft and latch member operating and adapted to move the latch member in both directions.

7. In combination with a car having a load retaining door, operating mechanism for positively opening and closing said door and a latch member connecting the operating mechanism to the door movable by said operating mechanism so mounted that when the door is closed it engages both the door and operating mechanism proper without tending to start the operating mechanism, and operating mechanism comprising a shaft and a link connection between the shaft and latch member operating and adapted to move the latch member in both directions.

8. In combination with a car having a load retaining door operating mechanism for positively opening and closing said door and a latch member connecting said operating mechanism proper to the door, movable by said operating mechanism, so mounted that when the door is closed it supports the adjacent edge of the door upon the operating iechanism Without ending to start the operating mechanism, d operat' mechanism comprising short and a l .lr conneclatch and adjacent tion between the sham and latch member operating-and adapted to move. the latch member in both directions.

9. In combination with a car having a hin ed load retaining door, mechanism operate by compression to positively move said door in each direction, a latch member on the door restingfwhen in closed positidn, upon t e operating mechanism without in that posltion tending to start the operating mechanism'and a flexible connecting'member attached to the operating member andto the latch and adapted to move the latch in both directions.

crank arm on said shaft, a

'10, In mechanism of the class described in combination with a suitable supporting frame, a hinged car door to be moved be tween open and closed positions, a shaft pivotally mounted. adjacent to but clear of a line of travel of an ed e of the door, a crank arm on said shaft, a atch member on said door adapted when the door is closed to support the door upon said shaft, a flexible connecting member secured tov said crank arm andto said latch member, in such a way that as the shaft is rotated in'one direction it closes the door and moves said latch member into the position where it is supported by the shaft, said flexible connecting member also serving to move said latehgnember in the opposite direction when'said shaft is re door in one direction and mechanism actu ated by the rotation of the shaft for positively moving the door in the opposite direction.

12. In mechanism of the class described in I combination with asuitable supporting 2 frame, a hinged car door to be moved bedoor a tween open and closed positions, a shaft pivotally mounted adjacent to but clear of the line of travel of the swinging front edge of the door, a crank arm on said shaft, a flexible connecting member attached to the crank arm and te thedoor whereby the shaft may inove'the door in one direction and mechanism actuated by the rotation of the shaft for positively direction.

i3.- In mechanism of the class described in combination with a suitable supporting moving the door in the opposite mechanism and a hinged car door to be opened and closed, a she t mounted approximatelyaparallel to the axis of the hinge of the acent to and clear of the swing front edge of the door, a crank on (I shaft, a flexible connecting member connected to the crank arm and the door whereby the shaft may move the door in one direction and mechanism actuated by the rotation of the shaft for positively moving the door in the opposite direction.

14.. In mechanism of the class described in combination with suitable. supporting mechanism' and a hinged car door to be opened and closed, a shaftmoilntedapproximately parallel to the axis of the hinge of the door adjacent to but clear of the front edge of the door, a crank arm upon'said shaft, a latch upon the door engaging it at two points.

adaptedto be moved to a position where it bears upon the. shaft and thus supports the door in locked position, a connecting mem ber secured to the'crank arm and to the latch member, said flexible connecting member serving to positively force said'latch member' from locked position to a position in which the door may be opened as the. shaft is rotated .in proper direction for opening the door. A

15. In mechanism of the class described the combination with a suitable supporti frame and a hinged door to be opened an closed, a shaft, a crank arm on said shaft, a fie ible connecting member having one end co nected to said crank arm extending around the shaft on its side away fromthe hinge of the door, a latch pin or locking member mounted on the door connected to the opposite end of said connecting member, said'latch pin being adapted to be moved to a position in which it is supported upomthe shaft for the'purpose of 100 mg the adjacent edge of the-door, and mechamsm by means of which rotating the shaftin either direction positively moves said latch and positively moves said door during at least a portion of the path of travel of the door.

16. In a car in combination with the under frame and a normally level ivoted floor door adapted to be opened and c osed to discharge the load a shaft mounted below the floor of the car adjacent to the path of travel of the floor door a crank arm on said shaft and a connecting member-of greater length than said crank arm connected at one end upon said crank arm and extending toward the door on the side of the shaft away from the hinge of the door a latch member on said door connected to said connecting member and mechanism for positively operating said latch and door in each direction durin a portion of the path of the travel of the cor.

17. In mechanism of the class described in combination with a frame and, aload carr ing floor door-and means for operating t e door; a latch member engaging the door at two points and engaging a fixed point of support outside the door, and means comprising a shaft and a link connection between said shaft and said latch member for automatically moving said latch in opposite directions at opening and closing of the door.

18. Ina car in combination with a suitable frame and load carrying door hinged thereto,

a shaft adjacent to an edge ofthe door, a drum on the shaft, a crank arm on the drum, a flexible connecting member around the drum secured to said crank arm, a latch on the door connected to the connecting member, means for rotating the shaft in either direction, a tooth on the drum and an oppositely disposed tooth on the adjacent mechanism the'whole arranged so that rotating the shaft moves the latch and door positively in either direction.

19. In a dump car, the combination with a load supporting door, a door supporting bar or latch projecting from the swinging edge of the door and movably connected therewith, adoor sup orting operating shaft having a polygonal rum adjacent to and clear ofthe path of the swinging edge of the door, and a plurality of hinged links fitting the faces of drum with said door supporting bar or latch,

the outer end ofsaid door supporting bar when the door is closed being directly over said operating shaft 'so that the load on the closed door has no tendency to turn the shaft in the direction for opening the door, substantially as specified. I

21. Ina dump car, the combination with a load supporting door, a door'supporting bar or latch projecting from the swinging edge of the door and movably connected therewith,

a door supporting operating shaft having a polygonal drum adjacent to and clear of the path of the swinging edge of the door, and a plurality of hinged links fitting the faces of said polygonal drum and connecting said drum with said door supporting bar or latch,

said door supporting bar having means for limitin its outward movement on the door.

22. In a dump car, the combination with a load supportingdoor, a doorsupporting bar or latch projecting from the swinging edge of the door and movably connected therewith, a door sup orting operating'shaft having a polygonal ruin adjacent to and clear of the path of the swinging edge of the door, and a plurality of hinged links fitting the faces of said polygonal drum and connecting said drum with said door supporting bar or latch, the face of said drum which is uppermost when the door is closed and the one of said links which is hinged directly to said supporting bar having interengaging notches to cause said link to push the door supporting bar inward on the door when said shaft is turned to open the door, substantially as specified.

23. In a dump car, the combination with a hinged door, of a reciprocating supporting bar on its under side at the swinging edge of the door, of a door supporting and operating shaft adjacent to and clear of the path of the swinging edge of the door, a polygonal drum on said shaft, and a connection between said shaft and said reciprocating door supporting bar, the outer end I of said supporting bar when the door is closed being directly above said operating shaft, substantially as specified.

24. In a dump car, the combination with'a load supporting door, of an operating shaft and a polygonal drum thereon adjacent to and clear of the swinging edge of the door, a movable supporting bar or latch on the under side of the door projecting from its swinging edge, and-a series of pivoted links corresponding in number to and fitting the sides of said polygonal drum and connecting said drum with said supporting bar, the pivot between said supporting bar and the link adjacent thereto being directly above said supporting shaft when the door is closed, substantially as specified.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ARGYLE CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

DWIGHT B. CHEEVER, C. J. CHRrs'roFFEL. 

